Ractopamine is a chemical additive used in animal feed for swine to promote lean cuts of pork and improve their marketability. Although research has yet to fully determine the negative health effects of these additives in humans, Ractopamine and related beta agonists such as Clembuterol used for food production have been banned by the European Union and China , who no longer accept U.S. imported pork due to high residual levels of this chemical. Clenbuterol is another type of beta-agonist used in cattle feed to improve meat quality of beef. Both Ractopamine and Clenbuterol have also been found in local water environments around animal farms. To ensure that these contaminated wastewaters are safe for both human impact and for the environment, active, effective, treatment methods may be required to eliminate these chemicals from discharge waters. The purpose of the study was to understand how powerful oxidative radicals, particularly the hydroxyl radical (�OH) used in Advanced Oxidation Processes could react with these beta agonists in water, notably to ascertain how fast and how efficient these reactions occur. Kinetic experiments to determine these parameters were conducted using the linear accelerator facilities at the Radiation Laboratory, University of Notre Dame, which allows quantitative generation of different radicals under controlled conditions. Ultimately these data will provide fundamental information that will contribute to finding an efficient and economical way of removing these contaminants out of wastewater. Successful elimination could minimize risks to human health and the environment.

Destroying Ractopamine and related beta agonists in wastewaters using radical chemistry

247th National Meeting (2014)

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